If Hauritz is injured I'd send Krejza over as cover. I wouldn't say Siddle is a lock in atm, hes averaging more than Johnson this series and only slightly less expensive. Of course I wouldn't trust the averages too much as Flintoff is averaging way more than both Johnson and Siddle!
Still I could see the selectors going for more experience and going with Lee, Clark, Hilfenhaus, Hauritz. Someone said Lee doesn't want to play in the warm up to keep himself in cotton wool. If he does that then I wouldn't be picking him. He needs to prove his fitness and if he still has his form.
I think Krezja has very little going for him for a Test spot. He may be able to take a large haul on his day on the right pitch, but I think it is too risky to pick someone who will potentially go for 5 runs per over as Australia cannot afford another loss here. Regarding Siddle, I'd agree not to trust averages, he has bowled many aggressive, high quality spells and I feel a five wicket haul is just around the corner for him in this series. Johnson on the other hand has taken wickets seemingly out of nowhere and I'm sure many will agree that bowling as he is, he has taken as many wickets as anyone could have hoped for.
Aye, Krejza has been doing the job for Australia A so he definetly should be over here in case the wicket will spin.
He didn't do much in the two Tests against Pakistan A. He took one four wicket haul but was generally expensive and only totalled 7 wickets.
Agreed on the Lee part. It's simple for him really. Play the tour match and prove yourself and you might get a go. If you don't play it, then tough luck. That's what it should be - but it won't be like that.
I'm sure that is what will happen. If he is fit for the tour match, he will play in the third Test but I'm sure that if he does play, he won't be bowling 95mph as in the warm up game, as he is recovering from a bowling specific injury and so I think it is irrelevant.
Passion alone should never be enough. Fact of the matter is Siddle has an economy of 3.88 for this series only 0.12 less than Johnson who is at rock bottom. Johnson we know of, but Siddle has no excuse what so ever to be going for so many runs. Its not like his action is broken or his wrist position is stuffed. Heck he isn't even bowling 150km/h so really to be going at 3.88 so far is poor.
Siddle has been pitching it up and looking for swing, he is actively searcing for wickets and he is bowling the odd very impressive spell and so a high economy after two Tests can be tolerated, imo.
I would be tempted to go with Clark, Hilfy, Lee and Hauirtz. Lee tour form brought a whole new Lee to the plate, his ability to reverse swing at pace makes him an ideal choice to back up Hilfy's swing. Clark is there for the accuracy and he doesn't average 20 in Test cricket by not taking wickets. Siddle has potential but his accuracy is a worry, you could give him another go but I feel Hilfy needs a guy that can keep it tight. It looks like we will have another bowling shoot out though with Clark, Siddle, Lee and Johnson fighting for 2 spots.
All depends on Lee's fitness, if he is fully fit and bowling over 90mph, then he should be in, but I highly doubt that it will be possible after his injury. I think it should be a simple swap of Clark in for Johnson.
Harmison for Broad and Bell for Bopara for me.
Bell is a step back, imo. Bopara was impressive against West Indies (yes, I know, West Indies are rubbish, etc) and deserves more than two Tests, imo. I would agree with Harmison in for Broad.
I disagree. First innings he was good and the reason his second innings figures were so poor was because he only bowled one spell and it was when Australia were attacking and England had very aggressive fields.
Indeed. Onions bowled one bad spell, no reason to drop him, he took three in the first innings which cannot be ignored. I think Harmison has probably leapfrogged him with his fine domestic performances recently but I think both should play in the third Test with Broad missing out.
